Do IM have the Right??!!??

Here's a quite from SSalicia "Not only do we have our IDs to flash ( to officers )as we go into and out of the Prison but now they want us to wear these name tags that show our last name ???.

Here's my Oh my, that doesn't sound quite right, does it? We also wear a name tag with our picture, but mine is really faded because of the way it was taken and it's hard to see my picture. As for my name tag, I usually turn it around so that it faces towards me rather than the other way. I haven't gotten into any trouble about this but you should take your concerns to your director of nursing. That person is most inclined to go to bat for you. How do the other nurses react to the inmates being able to read their full name?

The officers wear their last names on their uniforms and they don't seem to stress about that. The likelyhood that the inmates would pursue nurses isn't common, or is it? If they choose to "write me up" they all know my name is Judy and with a description of the time of day and pod my DON can figure out who the inmate is referring to. As for contacting us - would they really want to spend the time doing so? After all, we aren't the target of their frustration in the first place.

We provide the meds and care, therefore the inmates should show some gratitude, right?

I have been a corrections nurse for 2 years, prior to that I was an officer for a few years at another facility, in another state. I was used to being called by my last name only.when I became a nurse the I/m called all medical staff by first name,I did not like it. However I am used to it now. What I do is use maiden name at work, so my phone number is unlisted but is in my husbands name. Never had a problem, but I /m know alot of stuff that we don't want them to know. They watch and listen to EVERYTHING!

Your conversations and whatever your co workers may say when you are not around. It happens,I have heard about other staff from I/m and it was all true.

Really if you want to know something ask an Inmate. It would be pointless for me to try to keep them from knowing. I am in a smaller county facility. I do not wear a name tag, but the inmates all know my name. They also know that they can't bullsh*t me and that if something is really wrong they want me on duty. They have nothing to do but listen so be careful what you put out there.

Our name badge have the initial of our first name with the full last name.

E. Coli, for example.

All of them call me Nurse Eirene, though. They are pretty coy. Our salaries are even published yearly.

I think this is a risk to the nurse. Their rights end where they violate mine. I have a very unique last name. The only one in my very large metropolitan area, and there are very few others by that name, with that spelling, in the U.S. Someone on the outside could easily track down where I live by using public records. Who is to say that some little "gangsta" in the facility that got ****** off at you for what he feels is some "disrespect", would not communicate your last and first name to a visitor and ask them to take care of you, so to speak? That could EASILY be done. One of our staff at one facility where I worked had an inmate (that is supposed to get out this year-he may already be out) that was just MEAN...and disturbed. (But he was not psychotic. He was a very lucid individual who constantly manipulated the system because he was fairly smart.) He told her that when he got out he would find her, rape HER, and kill her children. NOW do you feel okay about having your last name advertised? Perhaps you do, if your name is Smith or Jones. What about unique names? We do not all have spouses behind whose name we can hide. Nurses have rights to protect themselves. I would think this could evolve into a class action suit, potentially.

Wow, I am honestly shocked and feel sorry you are put in this situation. When I first started working in corrections it was actually my DON which instructed me to cross my last name off my badge, We keep a list of all the nurses full names and titles at access to the officers for report purposes but are not forced to disclose anything else to the imates besides first names. I have to agree with the other posts however, the I/Ms have nothing better to do than listen and probably know more than you think. Ive heard my name from I/Ms that I have never introduced myself to on numerous occasions. Ive even had a high felon ask me how my son was doing never telling any of the imates I had a child. ,that one scared me more than you know. We do have to be careful of the converations we have with our coworkers.Good Luck to you and your battle I hope it works out in your favor.